Who Should Play the Nutty Professor?

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:11pm

Ideas?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:15pm

Go ahead and put Jerry in the role now and save the endless drama as he drives off one star after another before he reluctantly accepts the lead role to save the show.
Updated On: 6/29/09 at 02:15 PM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:17pm

Well, Lewis is older now, maybe he's mellowed.

I, for one, think the show could work on Broadway.

Nathan Lane would be great but The Addams Family has him.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:21pm

This is for the 2010-11 season. Lane would seem like the (maybe too) obvious choice.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:22pm

It has to be someone who can play really off-the-wall and goofy.

[tgrabon2]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:24pm

Josh Grisetti

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:28pm

It needs to be someone who can play a lot of physical comedy, which Lewis has always been known for.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:28pm

It'll be Roger Bart.

And is Jerry Lewis in decent enough health to do anything other than show up for the opening night? Methinks they'll have to call in Jerry Zaks to "watch" from the mezzanine and give the actors notes at Joe Allen.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:28pm

Anyone who is not Martin Short. Dan Fogler could work, but they'll probably want a bigger name.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:30pm

I'd like to see Matthew Morrison tackle it, but he's tied up with TV's GLEE.

He would be outrageous.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:30pm

Maybe Sean Hayes will come to Broadway. Sean played Jerry in the bio-pic and they are friends. They have a good working relationship.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:36pm

It'll be Roger Bart.

Awesome. Hopefully, he'll yell and scream every single line again. I think he watched Singin' in the Rain as a child and assumed "Make 'Em Laugh" was a directive to be imposed on the audience with dictatorial venom.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:38pm

I don't want a Jerry Lewis look-a-like.

I'd like to see someone with their own originality.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:42pm

This is one show that you'll need to see the original cast because once the original cast leaves, they'll use the role as a revolving door for every second rate star who thinks he can play comedy.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:42pm

Who can play a goofball?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:45pm

Hopefully, he'll yell and scream every single line again. I think he watched Singin' in the Rain as a child and assumed "Make 'Em Laugh" was a directive to be imposed on the audience with dictatorial venom.

Unlike Nathan Lane who never met a punchline he couldn't telegraph to the audience.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:47pm

It should be a singer who can also make a lot of crazy sounds with his voice.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:51pm

Norbert Leo Butz

Edit: and my second choice would be anyone other than Sean Hayes or Roger Bart.

Updated On: 6/29/09 at 02:51 PM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:52pm

Yeah, but Norbert may be tied up with Catch Me If You Can.

What about Troy Britton Johnson?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:56pm

Would they have the same actor in both roles? Yes, Jerry played both roles but in a film you can stop to change costumes and all.

Personally, I'd prefer someone a bit younger than Bart.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:56pm

"It should be a singer who can also make a lot of crazy sounds with his voice."

Hank Azaria?

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 3:00pm

What do you think the stage age range for the role is?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 3:02pm

Hunter Foster or Raul Esparza. Either one would be great.

I sincerely doubt Sean Hayes will do it. The character is straight, not something that Hayes can convincingly portray.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 3:04pm

Jack Black in his Broadway debut?

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 3:10pm

But Jack Black claims he's been "tamed."
Jack Black: 'Family life has tamed me'